Winners without Losers: Structures and Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation To Learn.

Raffini, James P.

This book has two major purposes. The first is to help teachers gain a firm understanding of the theory and research that identifies the factors that have made it difficult for many students to meet their psychological and academic needs within traditional classrooms. Second, the book provides teachers with over a hundred suggestions for structural changes and motivational strategies designed to help satisfy these needs and thereby increase student motivation to learn. The first of 10 chapters, "Introduction," includes the goals for education and the book's approach--research based recommendations and strategies for motivation. Chapter 2, "Psychological Needs of Students," includes Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and the needs of self-worth, autonomy, and competence. Chapter 3,"Student Apathy in the Classroom," includes the topics of apathy, academic ability, and failure-avoiding behavior. Chapter 4, "Fostering and Undermining Intrinsic Motivation," includes the characteristics of intrinsically motivating behavior, how rewards effect motivation, and minimally sufficient control. Chapter 5, "Developing a Motivating Classroom Personality," includes the topics of organizational patterns, goal orientation, and target structures. Chapter 6, "Enhancing Student Self-Esteem"; chapter 7, "Enhancing Student Autonomy"; chapter 8, "Enhancing Competence in All Students"; chapter 9, "Facilitating Students' Need for Relatedness"; and chapter 10, "Stimulating Student Involvement and Enjoyment of Learning" give recommendations and strategies concerning the respective topic of each chapter. An appendix details motivational strategies classified by target areas and grade level. (Contains 174 references.) (RR)